I want to know what people think about this topic. Do you feel that criminal behavior is based on the enviornment we live in, or do you feel that it is based on our genetic make up?
I lean towards genetic make up as the cause of criminality. As an example of such Monomine Oxidase or MAO is an enzime that correlates to antisocial behavior or a more serious behavioral disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
Anyway let me know what you think is the cause of criminal behavior?
Even though chemical imbalances can be passed on, they only effect a person's behavior by so much. Basicly, we are arguing nature vs. nurture. I strongly believe that nurture (the environment, how one is raised, growing up, every day experiances, ect.) effects a person's personality much much more than nature (genetics).
Though, a person with a chemical imbalanced may be more inclined to act in a violent or "criminal" way than the average person under the same cercumstances, that does not mean in any way that nurture plays a lesser role. In fact, the body is constantly adapting to it's environment. The body may therefore creat more/less chemicals depending how the person lives. Genetics, does play a role, but I believe that the role is minor (in most cases). In more extreme cases, genetics may play a bigger role, but these are extreme cases. Even then, they are very rare and almost all relate to psychological problems such as schizophrenia, mental handicaps, and so on. Very rarely are people "naturally" angry. Some people may become angry more easily than others, but none the less that is a role brought on mainly by nurture.
So is criminal behavior based on genetics? I have to say, only to an extent that is very minor, at least compared to being based off of the environment. I have studied many psychological problems. Most are brought upon their upbringing or an event that pushed them to act out. A murderer, for example, may not have been abused as a child. In fact, a murderer could have seemed to be a "erfect" child. Maybe he was ignored. But he gets angry and kills someone. This is unlikely, and maybe it was caused by a chemical embalance, but the body adapts. How many of what chemicals are created changes drasticly upon one's life style.
Page 80 is where you need to start reading. Though the experiment is with kittens, many animals too may have similar chemical imbalances than humans. I know a thing or two about psychology, and to believe in genetics alone is a foolish and dumb thing to believe in.
I lean towards genetic make up as the cause of criminality. As an example of such Monomine Oxidase or MAO is an enzime that correlates to antisocial behavior or a more serious behavioral disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
Also, all chemicals in the human brain are triggered from events that happen in the outside world. So the more events that happen to trigger the chemical reaction, the more the individual acts upon the chemical reactions.
Therefore, genetics is like raw materials. They differ person to person. Environment, is like the tools. They determine how the raw materials are used. Environment effects how genetics play out.
First off, it's based on animals, not humans, therefore any conclusions we draw have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Secondly, it is quite likely that the group that seemingly overcame their instinctive urge to kill mice either became attatched to the mice or reassociated them, not neccessarily overriding their instinct. This is even more probable if the kittens were adequately fed. However, if they were given a stimuli to do so, ie hunger, their natural instincts may have taken over and they would have killed the mice for food.
The environment. If somewone lives in poverty, and robs a bank the environment definately has caused him to do so. I don't see how it could be genetics.
I would have to go with environment on this one. A person's personality is obtained from heredity and environment. However, unless the "heredity" part went horribly wrong-(mental disorder)-they should have the sense to NOT go into criminal activities, IF they were taught as a child that that was wrong, which is an environmental factor.
However, jsut as an interesting note, appearently there is an abnormally about of criminals with either the genotype XXY or XYY-(can't remember exactly, but I am 75% sure it is XXY)-due to non-disjunction. However, this has never really been proven to be the cause of the number of criminals.
I would have to go with environment on this one. A person's personality is obtained from heredity and environment. However, unless the "heredity" part went horribly wrong-(mental disorder)-they should have the sense to NOT go into criminal activities, IF they were taught as a child that that was wrong, which is an environmental factor.
However, jsut as an interesting note, appearently there is an abnormally about of criminals with either the genotype XXY or XYY-(can't remember exactly, but I am 75% sure it is XXY)-due to non-disjunction. However, this has never really been proven to be the cause of the number of criminals.
I would say environment. I don't think that genetics plays a major roll in it. Maybe a person could be more inclined to think in the way of a criminal...but I think that would be a small part in comparision. Environment influences people very much, whether it be what kind of neighborhood they live in, who they hang out with, or how their family treats criminal activity. If you live in a family that does not have a problem with small shoplifting, such as stealing a candy bar, I think you would be more likely to commit larger crimes later in life.
That's not genetics. That's just part of the environment.
He's correct. Genetics are like having blue eyes, blonde hair, etc. Of course that's not all genetics decide, but it is something that you have inherited from your parents. You didn't inherit getting into trouble from your father.
Behavior isn't much of an inherited trait. I guess it is a little, but if you chose to follow your dad, that'd just be because of your environment, not because your dad was a troublemaker.
However, jsut as an interesting note, appearently there is an abnormally about of criminals with either the genotype XXY or XYY-(can't remember exactly, but I am 75% sure it is XXY)-due to non-disjunction. However, this has never really been proven to be the cause of the number of criminals.
That sometimes makes them retarded... Who ever saw a retarded criminal... I mean really *flashes to picture*
"uh derr, I steal money please" *robber seems to be holding gun backwards* "I shoot now, no money in bag!" *bang*
end of story...
anyway that wouldn't even happen in the first place....
I would say it largely depends on the nature of the crime. I mean.. someone who grows up in a crappy part of town, joins a gang & gets involved with gang violence, shootings, and running drugs, I would say is largely a product of their upbringing and their environment.
Serial rapists, child molesters, and serial killers would be more likely canidates for genetic dysfunction being the primary issue.
Purely speculation; I'm not a doctor & I don't study the subject, but sounds as if it makes sense to me.
To DDX: It wouldn't REALLY make them retarted, to have an extra X or Y chromosome in your body. Some would, for instance, the XO-(Turner Syndrome) or Fragile X Syndrome, would, but in this case, esp. the XYY, the person would still be relatively normal, allowing the environment to take it's toll on the person. And jumping into a bit more of genetics, when you said "anyway that wouldn't even happen in the first place...", it in fact occurs quite frequently. The process in which this abnormalality happens is called nondisjunction.
Lol, there's no way its genetics, environment could cause it in some cases, but 90% of it is free will. I'm pretty sure my genes can't make me do something. Especially something I know is wrong.
